School repairs: $163 million and counting

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT--MESA -- The number continues to rise on the price of fixing the

deteriorating schools in Newport-Mesa.

The original estimate of $127 million, one that had residents gasping, is

officially a thing of the past. The new number on the table is $163

million.

A November update of the progress made by the committee deciding what

repairs to make included new numbers prepared by Fred Good of PJHM

Architects Southwest, based on changes made by the facilities committee.

This new report includes the costs of air conditioning in classrooms,

seismic improvements and teaching walls at the elementary level, said

Mike Fine, assistant superintendent in charge of finances.

“The report is still missing a few items,” said Mark Schultheis, the

committee’s chairman. “There are some district facilities and some leased

facilities [not included] that ought to be minor, but the final dollar

amount will still change.”

The biggest difference in cost comes from the committee’s decision to

increase the “soft cost,” or the costs surrounding the project such as

architect fees, permit costs, project management, soils testing and other

contingencies, said school board and facility member Jim Ferryman.

The committee increased those costs by 11%, bringing it from 19% to 30%.

These costs are all set by industry standards, Fine said.

“It’s roughly $20 million versus $40 million -- it basically doubled,”

Ferryman said. “Overall, those things have a tendency to be

underestimated. It’s better to overestimate.”

With the new draft before them, the committee will now do some

fine-tuning, Schultheis said.

“What we need to do now is assess several things and figure out what the

level of support in the community would be for a bond,” Schultheis said.

“We are not contemplating asking the voters to pass a $163-million bond.”

With the Newport-Mesa Unified School District now eligible for state

funding, it is hoping to get $53 million of the $163 million from outside

the community. That would leave an estimated $110 million needed from a

possible bond measure.

“But we do have some other resources, like the sale of property,”

Ferryman said. “It’s just a puzzle you have to put together and hope it

works out in the end. It’s not a perfect science.”Committee members are

also considering using the revenue from the sale of school property to

fund future maintenance, which is not included in the $163-million

figure, said Supt. Robert Barbot.

Schultheis said the committee should submit its final recommendation,

including dollar amounts, by mid- to late December.